The weather is beautiful and the sparkling river Thames is beckoning. You have always fancied yourself on the water recreating Three Men in a Boat and, being in Oxford, it would seem natural to try out your hand on a punt. But where should you go to hire one? Let us help out with the best places to hire a punt and go punting around Oxford.
If you want to punt for an hour, or a day, Madgalden Bridge Boathouse can help. From just £20/hour for up to 5 people, punts are available to hire seven days a week.
You can also hire rowing boats, pedalos, or a chauffeur for your punt!
Select your craft, and then travel south past the Botanic Gardens, Christ Church College Meadows and either loop back under miniature white bridges, or continue down the Thames where the banks open out to see more of the Oxfordshire countryside.
If you head north you can see Magdalen College Tower, Angel and Greyhound Meadows and Magdalen College Gardens.
Basic training is given to beginners.
If you want to combine a meal with some river activity, then The Cherwell Boathouse is the place for you. Offering both a restaurant and a Teahut Bar and Café on the banks of the river, you can satisfy both your desire for action and your enjoyment of food.
With over 80 punts, as well as rowing boats and canoes for hire the Boathouse has plenty to offer. Maximum of 6 people per punt – dogs are welcome and if you don’t want to bring your own picnic, you can order one in advance. How civilised!
Visit Salters Steamers pontoon outside the Head of the River pub and you can hire a punt, rowing boat, motor boat or day-boat. Prices start from £20/hour.
Children are welcome, and life jackets are available if required.
This stretch of the Thames is quite fast flowing, so may be difficult for those new to punting. However, if you head downstream passed Christchurch Meadow, you can punt up a smaller tributary where punting is easier and there are other punters there to give advice.
